Mission and objectivesThe World Health Organization (WHO) was established on 7 April 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Its mandate is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable. WHO works with countries to strengthen health systems, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, and promote health equity. Its core roles include setting global health standards, providing technical support, monitoring health trends, and coordinating international health responses, especially during emergencies. The WHO office in the South Pacific is part of the WHO Western Pacific Region and is based in Suva, Fiji. It supports 21 Pacific island countries and areas in achieving their health goals by providing technical assistance, building local capacity, and coordinating regional health initiatives. Key areas of focus include noncommunicable disease prevention, maternal and child health, climate and health resilience, and improving health systems in remote and vulnerable communities. The office plays a crucial role in ensuring that health strategies are context-specific and inclusive of the unique challenges faced by small island nations.
ContextThis UNV assignment is part of WHOโs regional work on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. NCDsโincluding cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetesโare the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 75% of deaths in the WHO Western Pacific Region. Many of these are premature and preventable through early interventions targeting key risk factors like unhealthy diet, alcohol and tobacco use.On the other hand, Mental health is an integral part of health and well-being. Mental health conditions exact a high toll, accounting for 13% of the total global burden of disease in the year 2004. Depression alone accounts for 4.3% of the global burden of disease and is among the largest single causes of disability worldwide (11% of all years lived with disability globally).NCDs and mental health conditions are often interconnected in multiple aspects, and as such require common services and resource mobilization efforts. There is unequivocal evidence that the marketing of unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages is related to childhood obesity and any attempt to tackle childhood obesity should, therefore, include a reduction in exposure of children to, and the power of, marketing. Marketing of unhealthy products to children is therefore a significant concern to health professionals, governments and parents; such products include alcoholic drinks, foods high in salt, fat and sugar, and tobacco, including new products such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and other types of electronic nicotine delivery system. Despite existing political commitments and policies, the latest evidence shows that children and adolescents are still regularly exposed to digital marketing of many unhealthy products. As time spent online shifts increasingly to social media and mobile devices, where personalized and targeted advertising predominates, the situation is likely to deteriorate. Childhood obesity and marketing of unhealthy products are among the main concerns โ digital marketing of these products is a new, global public health challenge that needs to be urgently tackled. There are available tools and protocols to manually monitor the marketing exposure of marketing of unhealthy products outside. This data can be impactful for advocating for string marketing regulations protecting children from harmful marketing exposure. Mental health has long been a major public health issue in the Pacific. Despite limited data, available evidence suggests a significant prevalence of mental disorders in PICs. In 2021 alone, more than 1.5 million people in the Pacific were affected by mental disorders, while over 200,000 experienced substance use disorders. Additionally, PICTs report some of the highest suicide rates in the Western Pacific region, underscoring the ongoing mental health crisis in the Pacific. However, significant challengesโsuch as stigma surrounding mental disorders, limited workforce capacity, weak information systems, and inadequate policies and legislationโare pervasive in the Pacific. Addressing the challenges in PICs requires a comprehensive, multisectoral approach, with coordinated efforts between the health and social sectors at the national level and enhanced collaboration at the regional level. The WHO Pacific Islands Mental Health Network (PIMHnet) is a joint initiative of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, officially launched in 2007.
Task DescriptionWithin the delegated authority and under the supervision of the team coordinator in the unit of Pacific Non-communicable diseases and Health through life course or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Emma Salmon will: โข Map the most popular social media platform form children from 6 โ 18 years clustered by age โข Gather information on online and social media use of children and adolescents (time spent online, most used online platform, apps, TV programs, most popular influencer) โข Adapting and where needed translating the WHO provided study protocol to local context, โข Mapp all available/published studies on marketing exposure to children in Region โข Monitor and map exposure to digital marketing experienced (based on countries needs traditional or non-traditional marketing) โข Write a report based on the results โข Mapp sponsoring contracts between (children) sports clubs and High in Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) food companies/products, alcohol and tobacco companies โข Mapp all available CoI tools in the Region โ especially used in Ministries and national public health institutes โข Document available meeting records between industry and the Ministry of Health (MoH) Under the guidance of the coordinator and technical officer at Pacific Noncommunicable Diseases and Health through the Life-Course Unit (PNH), in collaboration with colleagues at WPRO (World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific) and Headquarters, perform Mental Health related work, as follows: โข Assist in organizing and implementing regular PIMHnet(Pacific Islands Mental Health Network) activities โข Facilitate information exchange among PIMHnet members, WHO, and other partners. โข Maintain an up-to-date PIMHnet membership list. โข Prepare technical documents related to PIMHnet. โข Support additional projects within the PIMHnet framework. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: โข Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); โข Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; โข Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. โข Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; โข Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; โข Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs As an active WHO team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to WHO and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: Results/Outputs can be modified as appropriate; should not entirely mirror the task description but serve as a basis for workplan and deliverables] o Produce high quality reports on findings based on task description o Support team with development of background documents o Support team with accomplishing daily tasks and country requests o Work interdependently under supervision of technical staff โข Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment โข A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed
Competencies and valuesProfessionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to WHO; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to WHO procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; โข Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and WHO in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organizationโs interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; โข Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; โข Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. โข Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; โข Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; โข Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; โข Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards WHOโs mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Living conditions and remarksMost UN volunteers and staff live within 30 minutes of the office. There are many apartments nearby, with several within walking distance. Every Saturday, a local market offers a wide variety of fresh vegetables and fruits at reasonable prices. Many UN agency offices are located in the center of Suva city. Local staff and Fijians are known for their friendliness and hospitality, often inviting foreigners to social activities. Fiji is a unique country and WHO is a unique humanitarian operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.